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Two Soldiers Charged in the Death of Corporal Joshua Baker

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 29, 2011) - The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service (CFNIS), the investigative arm of the Canadian Forces Military Police, today charged two Canadian Forces members for an incident that occurred on a training range in Afghanistan on February 12, 2010. The Officer in Charge, Major Darryl Watts, and the Range Safety Officer, Warrant Officer Paul Ravensdale, face six charges and five alternate charges each in relation to the death of Corporal Joshua Caleb Baker and the injury of four other soldiers.

Major Watts and Warrant Officer Ravensdale are each charged with the following:

one count of manslaughter, contrary to section 130 of the National Defence Act (NDA), pursuant to section 236(B) of the Criminal Code of Canada (CCC). In the alternate, one count of death by criminal negligence, contrary to section 130 of the National Defence Act (NDA), pursuant to section 220(B) of the Criminal Code of Canada (CCC);

one count of negligent performance of a military duty, contrary to section 124 of the National Defence Act;

four counts of unlawfully causing bodily harm, contrary to section 130 of the National Defence Act (NDA), pursuant to section 269 of the Criminal Code of Canada (CCC). In the alternate, four counts of causing bodily harm by criminal negligence, contrary to section 130 of the National Defence Act pursuant to section 221 of the Criminal Code.

It is alleged that the proper safety procedures were not followed during the training exercise. The case will now proceed through the military justice system.

The CFNIS is an independent Military Police unit with a mandate to investigate serious and sensitive matters in relation to National Defence property, DND employees, and CF personnel serving in Canada and abroad.